New chapter ;) Hope you'd like it

Sometimes the closiest one can hurt you more than your enemy

John Paul sipped his coffee in silence and was pretending he's busy with sorting folders in his desk, although his eyes regularly were following his new partner pacing around the office, putting her things on the right places. Craig could be proud of her, she was the same freak if it comes about tidiness as him and there wasn't even one thing lying useless on her desk. He learned also, she wasn't a very talkative person, since for the last hour, they had exchanged only few polite sentences and they both had moved to their own jobs. She was almost like ghost, being so quiet around, sometimes he needed to look up to check if she was still in the same room as him. He didn't know if she doesn't like talk, or she wasn't sure her English and that's what was stopping her from it. The reasons could be miscellaneous.

'You're watching me all the time. You want something, or did I do something wrong?' She suddenly spoke up to him softly with her funny accent, setting her both eyes at him.

'No. I'm just checking if you're still here.' He smiled slightly. 'I've never before working with someone so quiet like you.'

'I'm a little nervous. Today it's my first day and still not sure if I stay here for more than a week.' She explained with a sigh and sat down in front of John Paul's desk. 'Let's say my first meeting with boss didn't look too good.'

'Not only yours.' He grinned above the folder. 'But I heard from others it wasn't so bad. Usually he has more to say.'

'Oh, really?' She asked skeptically. 'He doesn't want me to work here, because of my eye.'

'He's only angry because he didn't know about your eye earlier. Just give him a little time and he'll get use to you. Trust me.'

'You seem to know him pretty good.' She noticed, her dark eye watched him intently.

'We used to be partners, before he got promotion.' He explained and moved nervously on his chair. 'He's a good guy, but you need to get use to his swinging moods.'

'I pointed he's small.' She said with sheepishly smile and John Paul bite down on his low lip to not burst in laugh. 'So I'm not sure about us being friendly with each other.'

'Well, it was the worst thing you could said to him for the morning.' He gave her indulgent look. 'But nothing is lose, yet. Work hard, then he might forgives you.' He advised with a small smile.

'How I can work, when you don't catch your people, yet?' She pointed.

'Darren and Charlie already are working on it.' He replied, wondering if they're really doing their job or just sitting in cafeteria and pretending they're busy. 'We should have them at the station during two days.'

'So they're in terrain?' Another question for which John Paul didn't know how to answer. 'The quicker we get them, the better for investigation.'

'Yea, they're already there…Well, we didn't see them in common room, right?' He gave her fake smile. 'What would you say for coffee and we could take care about billings? You could get few points at Craig if he sees you're doing his job freely.'

'If it's going to help me, why not.' She shrugged and stood up. 'Where do you keep a coffee?'

'Middle cupboard, upper shelf.' He instructed and took a deep breath when she turned around and marched toward furniture. 'Mugs are on the left.'

'I see you're working pretty hard, today.' Startled Charlie spitted his coffee over the table when Bridget's voice rang behind his back. 'I just knew I'm going to find you here.' She smiled slyly as she took a seat in front of him.

'I needed a break.' He replied evasively. 'Beside there's no sign of Darren, yet.'

'It's only nine.' She glanced at her wristwatch, and fixed her eyes at him like his mother every time he has done something wrong. 'What tired you so much you need a break?'

'I'm enough adult to take care about myself.' He snapped and wiped the table with handkerchief. 'You'll have a guest at ten. Some guy phoned to us and said he might has some information for us.'

'He said he wants to talk with me?' She raised her eyebrow. 'Or it was your idea to give me an extra work?'

'His…Anyway you saw this new sergeant? I heard she already worked up our lovely boss.' He grinned.

'Not yet. But I hope she'd stay longer with us, it's good to have another woman in team.' She smiled slightly. 'I just have enough talking with you about cars or girls.'

'It'd be better if we talk about cooking and handbags?' He raised his eyebrow. 'It can be more shallow and boring theme than that?'

'Yea, cause it's so exciting to hear from you which girl you pick up last night.' She snapped, outraged.

'You don't have to listen it if you don't want. Fred and Darren seem to be interested what's happening in my life. We all three love birds and although Darren is going to be a married man soon, he'll still loves women and looking around after them on the street.' He said firmly and reached for croissant.

'Well, I wouldn't agree with you in this one.' She replied with a wry smile. 'Contrary to you I have eyes and know what's going on around. Darren's mind is too much occupied by someone else, to notice other women.'

'Yea, right. Like you'd know him so good.' He shook his head amused. 'Hannah is keeping him on a tight leash, and that's why he's looking after other birds. I wouldn't be surprised if he spends a night with one, before the wedding. He likes to be in charge, just like Craig.'

'Maybe he's more similar to Craig than you've ever known.' She said quietly.

'Yea, right.' He grinned and took a bite of his breakfast. 'If you meet Darren tell him I'm waiting for him here. We need to work quick and find these guys.'

'So why you wouldn't wait for him in common room? You already ate your breakfast.' She pointed with a half smirk.

'Because if Craig sees me, and he'll, cause he wants to see how we're working with new ones, he'll cut my balls off for not working.'

'Ah, so you're admitting you're not working?' She asked with a sly smile.

'Shouldn't you go back and do your job?' He asked drily, not happy about the turn of events.

'I'm going.' She replied with sweet smile as she slowly raised up from the chair. 'I don't need to worry about you anymore. Since what I see, William is going to give you company.'

'What?' He snapped, his eyes growing up. 'No way…'

'Then turn around.' She flashed him another smile and with a loud; good morning William, she marched out from cafeteria, leaving him alone to meet with his nemesis. Young lad shyly appeared on his right in smoothed grey merchant navy and smoothly brushed blonde hair, with a tray with two sandwiches and glass of orange juice and nodded at the free chair.

'Hello.' He welcomed Charlie with nervous smile. 'Can I join you?'

'Sure, I'm already off. You can have the whole table for yourself.' He replied and put the rest of his croissant to the mouth.

'Oh, so you won't stay?' He asked disappointed as he settled down and put the tray on the table. 'I thought we could talk.'

'I'm quite busy right now. Need to find Russian Mafia.' He gave him a forced smile.

'Do you need my help?' He asked quickly, his blue eyes lit up.

'If I need a bullet in my back, you can be sure I'll give you a sign.' He replied with a little smile to not let the lad feel offended, but it looked like he was already hurt by his words. 'Now, I really need to be going.'

'Sure. See you later.' He quietly said back and looked down at his tray.

'You can help Fred at the station today, if you want. I'm sure he'll need an extra pair of hands.' He added for goodbye and frowned his eyebrows as he noticed William neatly put on the handkerchief fork and knife. 'You're going to eat your sandwiches with cutlery?' He gave him an odd look.

'I don't want to soil my clothes.' He replied with a tone like it was the most logical thing on the world.

'I get it.' He nodded although he didn't understand him even a little. Craig is hiring his own clones, he thought drily and with fake smile decided to get out from the cafeteria and go somewhere, where William, Craig or Bridget can't find him.

'Oh, please.' Bridget growled quietly above her monitor as she saw who was coming in to the common room and looking around trying to localize her desk. 'What is he doing here?' She slide down a little off her chair and tilted toward Moore sitting with his back to the door, making some notes.

'Who?' He asked uninterested, didn't stop writing.

'Guess.' She snapped and she could swear she was blushing now. Moore turned his head toward her and moment later grinned widely.

'Ah, Mr. Tool.' She sent him a warning glance. 'I didn't have any idea he's going to come at the station.'

'Me either…Look, can you talk with him for a moment until I don't find someone else to interrogate him? I'm a little busy right now.' She asked, pleading writing in her eyes.

'I think it's too late for it.' He pointed at something behind her head. She turned around and almost fall down from the chair as the familiar face was smiling back to him along with bright eyes looking at her above his glasses.

'Ah, so there are you hiding, detective sergeant Thomson.' He grinned and she suddenly felt very small. 'I remember good?'

'Yes, you do.' She said reluctantly and straightened on her chair so he didn't has to bend over the monitor too see her. 'So what is so important you decided to visit us?'

'I thought you want to know, Mr. Behari bought a gun few months earlier.' He answered as without ask he sat in front of her desk.

'Why? Was he afraid of someone?'

'Like everyone down the street.' He shrugged. 'It's not wise not pay for protection.'

'You mean pay some elegant Russians?' Moore asked behind her back.

'I think everyone knows who is in charge there.' He smiled slightly. 'And I also know Mr. Behari had problems with money. He owned them a lot of money, but he didn't earn enough to give the all cash back.'

'He told you about that?' She asked sharply, approaching the news with a great degree of caution.

'No, but I heard him talking with one of them. They were arguing about money, they wanted them back. It's nothing new there, you know.' He smirked.

'You're not afraid, they're gonna go after you for talking with us?'

'Of course there's a big chance I'd end with a bullet in my head for cooperating with you, but also I have a big chance to get rid of them for good, if it was them who killed Mr. Behari and his family. There's always some bright sides of it.'

'Yea, I see that.' She smiled slightly. 'Do you know what kind of gun he had?'

'I know nothing about guns, detective.' He smiled charmingly. 'But if you look around the house, I'm sure you'd find the gun somewhere and would know what kind it is.'

'We'll see. It's everything you wanted to tell us?' She asked impatient, suddenly feeling weird around this man. There was something strange about him, but she couldn't specified what's exactly.

'I wonder why you're referring to yourself as we, detective.' He said slyly and now she was sure she was all red on the face, and Moore was giggling behind her back.

'You exactly know why I'm using this form, Mr. Tobey.' She replied drily, her chair was shaking because of her partner laugh.

'Ah, how officially.' He teased from his seat.

'If it's everything Mr. Tobey, I don't mind if you ends your visit right now. I'm sure there's a lot of clients waiting for you to open the shop.' She said irate, eyes flashed with coldness.

'My niece is taking care about my business, so you don't have to worry about that, detective.' He smiled widely. 'But I wouldn't mind to drink a coffee with you. Can I call you Bridget? I don't like this Mr. and Mrs. things.' She stared at him speechless.

'You're my witness, I can't drink a coffee with you.' She said slowly, so he could understood her perfectly. 'And I'm detective Thomson for you, Mr. Tobey.' She added sharply.

'We'll see, detective.' He flashed her another smile before he slowly raised up from the chair.

'It's everything?' Her hands grabbed the desk, to calm herself.

'Only one question.' He lifted his finger and she wanted to growl.

'If you're going to ask me for lunch, you already can go back to home.'

'With pleasure I'd eat a lunch with you, Bridget, but I'm quite busy man.' He grinned. 'Anyway I wanted to ask about something else.'

'Don't stop yourself, then.' She said with a fake smile. 'The sooner we finish, the better for everyone in this room.'

'It's not like everyone are complaining here.' He noted. 'I wanted only to ask if you already contact with Mr. Behari's daughter. I didn't see her from few days and I was worrying if she knows what's happened with her family.'

'What daughter?' She frowned her eyebrows.

'Aja. Their older daughter. I saw her not once wandering over the street, but never talked with her…I already told about her some officer, but I wasn't sure if he was interested in searching for her.' Bridget glanced at Moore with a deep sigh.

'You still want this coffee?' She asked reluctantly and almost gritted her teeth, when the man flashed his all teeth in wide smile.

Darren sighed tiredly and leaned against the wall covered with high mirrors, reluctantly watching three women pacing around the shop and choosing another dresses. He would do anything to come back to work, ready to spend his whole day sitting in the car with Charlie, listening to his stupid jokes. Everything's sounds better than this.

'I think bridesmaids should wear dresses in ecru color. They'd look lovely around Hannah in her white dress.' Frankie said as she grabbed some long dress. 'I thought we could decorate their hair with white roses.'

'Oh, they'd look gorgeous.' Susanne said excited and hugged her fragile daughter. 'We need to choose a bouquet for Hannah.'

'I already found one.' Hannah smiled. 'What would you say about the dresses, babe?' She turned toward him and he wanted earth to devour him right now. 'You like them?'

'Course he likes.' Frankie replied instead of him. 'Besides you already should learn, there's no point in asking men about clothes. They know nothing about that. If not us, they'd walking in garbage bags.' She smiled politely toward her stepson.

'Yea, and recently you've become my best mate.' Darren said sarcastically, making Hannah's smile drop down. 'Don't you think it should be Hannah who should say what she wants on her wedding, not you? And besides it'd be nice of you if you asked us first if we even want to come to this shop and buying dresses.' He continued, although he could see how nervous Hannah was right now. 'When the last time you talked with your daughter Susan?'

'I'm talking all the time. I don't understand what are you talking about...' She chuckled slightly, unsurely glancing at Frankie whose face tensed, eyes shone with anger.

'I know you do, but when the last time you talked with her honestly? Hear what she wants.'

'Oh, Darren.' Frankie laughed loudly, making Susanne winced. 'Men. They're so all nervous before the wedding. Oh, I remember how his father was behaving so erratic I barely recognized him. Don't bother about him.' She said to tensed Hannah. 'Don't let him ruin your big day, love.'

'It's our big day.' She suddenly improved her. 'Not only mine.'

'Sure, love.' She nodded with a slight smile. 'But don't let him ruin it. Men can be so unpredictable sometimes.' She glanced at him with unappreciated.

'She already ruined her big day.' Darren stated and stood up. 'I'm going outside. Give me a sign when you finish here and wants to come back to home.'

'What you mean by, she ruined her wedding?' Susanne asked sharply. 'Darren...'

'People should marriage these people who they love.'

'I really have enough your moods, Darren.' Frankie snapped. 'Stop being a Drama Queen and take a part in preparing your wedding. Hannah doesn't need your mumbling. If you think you can do that better than us, we can give you a free hand!'

'Mum, Frankie, leave him. He's really not interested in buying dresses.' She said with a nervous smile.

'He's not five. If he has some problems, let him speak loud.' Frankie continued with hands on her hips, but Darren wasn't listening her anymore. He just removed his mobile phone and speechless staring on the screen. 'Now, cat eat your tongue?'

'Darren…' Hannah said weakly, but he already marched toward the exit, with shaking hands, dialing the number. I'm fine, stop asking about me. Please. S.

'I really don't know how you're going to cope with him. He's so immature…' Darren almost ran away from the shop and pressed the phone to his ear, quietly urging him to answer.

'You didn't read what I wrote?' Familiar voice spoke up in his phone and he felt how his lips passively widened in a smile.

'Spikey…' He said quietly. 'God, how I missed you…'

'Did you hear what I said?'

'Where are you? I need to see you, to talk with you.' He ran a hand through his thick hair.

'We can't meet, Darren. Please, stop asking about me…'

'Where are you living? I'm in town, we could meet here. Hannah is choosing her wedding dress with my stepmother, so...' He replied before he bite himself in tongue.

'Well, I think it's the answer for our questions…Stop looking for me, I don't want to have a contact with you anymore. Take care about Hannah and your baby. They'll need you, not me. I'm fine. I'm in good hands. '

'No, you don't understand…' He shook his head.

'We both need to sort out our lives, Darren. When we do it, then we can start thinking about meeting again.'

'I need you now. Please, you're the only one…'

'I need to go. I'll be thinking about you. Take care about yourself and Hannah. She deserves the best, just like you. Forget about me. It'd be the best for everyone.'

'Spike…'He whispered, but man already hang out. 'Fuck!' He yelled at the whole street and didn't bother about other people smashed his mobile phone on the pavement. Warm tears fall down from his eyes before he could stop them. He hated himself for being so weak. He hated himself for ruining his whole life in the name of love which doesn't has any chance to last. 'What I should do now?' He asked quietly himself, watching faces of people passing by them, like the answer was written over them.

'Darren?' He felt a warm hand on his shoulder and he automatically turned around and wrapped his arms around Hannah, searching for a comfort. 'What's the matter?' She asked concerned, but he was only sobbing quietly and holding her tightly.

'Bad day.'

'Shouldn't it be me to have swinging moods?' She asked with a slight smile. 'I'm pregnant not you.'

'You even don't have any idea how easier it'd be it will be me not you.' He quietly said back and as quickly he wrapped his arms around, he pulled back and without more words moved down the street, leaving confuse fiancé alone in front of the shop, in hands keeping bridesmaids dress.

'This one eyed witch didn't tired you yet with her annoying voice?' John Paul glanced briefly at his boyfriend who without ask came in to his office and unceremoniously sat down at his desk. 'God. I'd send her to hell if I don't need her so badly now.'

'She's fine for me Craig. You wouldn't snap at her if she didn't point out you're low.' He smirked under his murderous look. 'Give her a chance.'

'I love you, too.' John Paul slightly moved up and tried to kiss him, when the door opened and Tiger Eye came in, in hands carrying box with documents. Before he had a chance to think, Craig brutally pushed him back on the chair and same jumped from the desk.

'Do I disturb you?' She asked, unsurely moving her eyes from one man to another.

'What? No, in what you could disturb us, eh?' Craig asked her sharply. 'Anyway, where have you been?'

'We got information, the victim has also a daughter. Now we're trying to find her, since I don't have nothing to do for now.' She replied and put the box on her desk.

'Charlie and Darren didn't go back, yet?' He moved eyes on John Paul.

'Don't see them today.' He shrugged and massaged his sore shoulder. He'll let him pay for this later.

'Who's staying with Willy today?'

'He's with Fred.'

'Great. So no one except me is working here.' John Paul rolled his eyes.

'Me and John Paul are working.' She said offended, measuring him unfriendly. 'Do you have something to us?'

'You can cut off your ponytail, Tiggy.' He snapped. 'Or maybe you're using it to cleaning here?'

'What?'

'Craig can you leave us alone? We're trying to work here.' John Paul interfered knowing their further conversation won't bring nothing good.

'I want his daughter's identity today on my desk. And I wouldn't mind to see her at the station also.' He smoothed his shirt and with last, angry glance at his new subordinate he walked out, with a slam closing the door.

'Was he threatened you?' Svetlana suddenly asked, frowning her eyebrows.

'From where you get it?' He chuckled.

'When I came…He pushed you back. Why?'

'No, I just lost balance and he was trying to catch me.' He replied with nervous smile.

'It doesn't look like that.' She noted. Like for one eye, you're very perceptive person, he thought with a smirk. 'You two are okay?' She asked in broken English.

'Yes.' He nodded with a slight smile. 'Come on. Give me the box and we can start working.'

'You know for whom we're searching for?'

'Yea, the question is where she can be here now. We need to check if they have any families here…'

'You think I should go to boss office today?'

'If you want to lose your another eye.' He scratched his head, before he set his eyes on the acts.